Been reading about integrating newbies to a flock and still have ?'s **UPDATED**

[Miss Lydia]

Have you ever seen a mallard take off, they can get lift straight up, me thinks 2 girls next door would give him ample reason to fly up and over baby gate, keep us updated.

 

[RacerWife7]

I have found the the younglings rarely fly here. In fact, neither do my adults, for the most part. If they do, typically its just short bursts, as in 'I've got to catch up to my buddies over there' or 'that dog is chasing me!' None of my ducks have clipped wings.

I think the baby gate idea is a great one, just keep in mind that without an overhead cover, it is not predator proof, so it would be unsuitable for overnight/extended unsupervised lodging

The baby gate would, actually, be inside the confines of the new, intended coop - just a sectioned-off area for them to stay inside and get to know their somewhat older man. (LOL) Peepers can fly and he, particularly, likes to hover. He just picks himself up off the ground and hangs there for a few seconds. LOL! Being a mallard, he's small. But, hubby just told me he's thinking of keeping it a shorter coop (that we won't be able to walk in). So, the gate might JUST fit in there with a few inches above it; but not too much space.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The baby gate would, actually, be inside the confines of the new, intended coop - just a sectioned-off area for them to stay inside and get to know their somewhat older man. (LOL) Peepers can fly and he, particularly, likes to hover. He just picks himself up off the ground and hangs there for a few seconds. LOL! Being a mallard, he's small. But, hubby just told me he's thinking of keeping it a shorter coop (that we won't be able to walk in). So, the gate might JUST fit in there with a few inches above it; but not too much space.

For 3 small mallards that would work, just make sure he makes the front of their house where it can open all the way so you can get into it to clean. we did that with our small coop it has 2 doors that open up and i can get in and clean it really well. this is our first chicken cop, now houses 3 of my Scovy's

 

[RacerWife7]

For 3 small mallards that would work, just make sure he makes the front of their house where it can open all the way so you can get into it to clean. we did that with our small coop it has 2 doors that open up and i can get in and clean it really well. this is our first chicken cop, now houses 3 of my Scovy's

The house we're planning to use (similar to yours, actually) has a roof that lifts up on hinges so we can clean it. That's why this coop is going to be shorter - the roof hangs over the front about 6". Looks like yours does the same. We have a lot of hawks around (especially lately!!). So, we make sure to have a fence covering over the top. I don't want any hungry hawks thinking they can steal my duckies!! Usually, they'll sit in the tree above the coop and look down at the ducks until they figure out that there's no way to fly in there and snatch one. Then, they fly off, disinterested.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The house we're planning to use (similar to yours, actually) has a roof that lifts up on hinges so we can clean it. That's why this coop is going to be shorter - the roof hangs over the front about 6". Looks like yours does the same. We have a lot of hawks around (especially lately!!). So, we make sure to have a fence covering over the top. I don't want any hungry hawks thinking they can steal my duckies!! Usually, they'll sit in the tree above the coop and look down at the ducks until they figure out that there's no way to fly in there and snatch one. Then, they fly off, disinterested.

Oh yes big time for hawks right now, my space is so large I can't cover the top I have predator tape hanging every where. I lost a bantam hen to a red tail back in the winter they are ruthless when they are hungry. I look forward to seeing it finished sounds like it will be perfect for your mallards.

 

[RacerWife7]

The expanded abode!! The left side is what already existed. The right section is the new part.





He used our old dog house (the dog is old and stays indoors, now). He is going to put a sliding door with an outside handle to open and close the main door at night. He cut the side screen door in it and installed a latch. So, we will have side access. The top opens, as well - it's hinged on the back side.


Peepers is in there (next to his food dish). He and Raspberry (my Swede drake) seemed confused that they were on opposite sides of the fence and couldn't beat each other up. Spot (my Swede duck) couldn't have cared less. She was wandering around just like normal. LOL!



There they are... checking each other out on different sides. I think it's going to take some getting used to for Peepers. But, he'll adjust. Just wait until he meets his girls!! LOL! (We will have half of his pen fenced for them to spend days in - and nights indoors in their inside pen).

 

[RacerWife7]

...Excuse all the building materials all over the place. Hubs did this until 11:00 last night!! I'm just SO happy that they can all stay OUT of their house all day and nobody has to be sequestered!! YAY!!